''Rogue Ship'' is a 1965
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
novel by Canadian-American writer
A. E. van Vogt
Alfred Elton van Vogt ( ; April 26, 1912 – January 26, 2000) was a Canadian-born American science fiction author. His fragmented, bizarre narrative style influenced later science fiction writers, notably Philip K. Dick. He was one of the ...
, adapted from three short stories to form a novel. The three short stories used were:
* "Centaurus II" (Originally published in
''Astounding Science-Fiction'', June 1947)
* "Rogue Ship" (Originally published in ''
Super Science Stories
''Super Science Stories'' was an American pulp science fiction magazine published by Popular Publications from 1940 to 1943, and again from 1949 to 1951. Popular launched it under their Fictioneers imprint, which they used for magazines, payin ...
'', March 1950)
* "The Expendables" (Originally published in ''
if Worlds of Science Fiction'', September 1963)
Using Van Vogt's own terminology when creating a novel from 3 previous short stories, he named it a
fixup
A fix-up (or fixup) is a novel created from several short fiction stories that may or may not have been initially related or previously published. The stories may be edited for consistency, and sometimes new connecting material, such as a frame s ...
.
Plot summary
Centaurus is the destination of the space ship ''The Hope of Man''. It has been traveling through space for almost twenty years, and still has nine years of flight remaining. For many on board the craft, Earth has become a vague memory, while for others it is a mere dot in the vast starry reaches of space. Restlessness is evident everywhere; the people want to return to a place they know is inhabited - not continue to an unknown where life is uncertain. Mutiny seems inevitable. Captain Lesbee (the ship's main officer) knows that mutiny breeds mutiny, but what is more significant is his knowledge of Earth's possible obliteration. The one hope is Centaurus. Now more than ever, there can be no turning back. Order has to be maintained even at the price of human life.
After reaching Centaurus and finding it unsuitable for human life, ''The Hope of Man'' heads towards the next destination, the Alta system. Because the ship is unable to attain light speed it takes decades to travel there. Upon arriving in the system, after mutiny and treachery, ''The Hope of Man'' is now captained by Browne, a descendant of the ship's original First Officer. ''The Hope of Man'' enters into orbit around Alta III, but find it already inhabited and come under attack from the occupants. During this time we see a struggle for power by various groups. Control changes quickly from one character to another until the arrival of the ship's owner, Averill Hewitt. The novel concludes with Hewitt in charge and the ship finding many planets to inhabit.
External links
*
*
1965 Canadian novels
Novels by A. E. van Vogt
Doubleday (publisher) books
{{Canada-novel-stub